Tag: Olympus E-M1 MKII

Olympus announced a new lens last Tuesday, the M.Zuiko 100-400mm f5.0 – 6.3 Is zoom. It has a built-in IS and this new firmware for several different cameras will make the cameras compatible with that IS. Also, the new firmware makes it possible to use Focus Stacking with the new lens.

The cameras that got a new firmware are Olympus E-M1X, E-M1 MKIII, E-M1 MKII, and E-M5 MKIII.

Here is what Olympus site says about the firmware and the M.Zuiko 100-400mm f5.0-6.3 IS lens.

• Possible to use in-camera focus stacking mode with “M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS”.

• Image stabilization performance when using “M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS” has been improved.

  • * Roll compensation is available with the image stabilization function of the body, along with the pitch and yaw image stabilization function of the lens.

  • * The “M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS” is not compatible with 5-axis Sync IS.

• * Roll compensation is available with the image stabilization function of the body, along with the pitch and yaw image stabilization function of the lens.

• * The “M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS” is not compatible with 5-axis Sync IS.

Interesting thing is that the new lens is not compatible with 5 axis IBIS. Even though it is not SyncIS it still communicates with the camera. Part of the stabilizing comes from the lens and part of it is from the body.

So it is actually a limited or partial SyncIS. It is also interesting that E-M1 MKIII got a bit different firmware upgrade than the other cameras. It is only about Focus Stacking.

edit: The E-M1 MKIII as the newest model is already compatible with the IS on the 100-400mm IS lens. It does not need an upgrade o that feature.

The firmware can be upgraded via Olympus Workspace. You also need the Olympus Updater software for upgrading.

In the video below I explain how to upgrade the firmware in your Olympus camera.